“Speed gone, reflex missing”
Neat Records’ 1981 release Lead Weight was one of the best NWOBHM compilations, featuring a whole bunch of songs you couldn’t hear anywhere else. My favourite of the bunch is Fist’s Throwing In The Towel. It tells the tale of an ageing boxer lured into the ring for a comeback bout… only to realise his thunder-crapping days are behind him. It’s got a wonderfully downtrodden chorus and there’s real tension in the verses as the staccato vocals punch and jab. It’s brilliant, inventive stuff that holds its own amongst the compilation’s heavy-hitters like Raven and Venom. Unfortunately, Throwing In The Towel was the last song this lineup of Fist released which is a shame… they could have been contenders.
HEAVY METAL OVERLOAD 
That cover photo for this post, is that from ‘Rocky IV’?
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Correct!
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Yeah, I only know that because we had to watch the movie in college for a history class or something like that. Apollo’s death is probably the most brutal thing I’ve ever seen on film.
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It’s pretty brutal. Poor Apollo. Rocky should have thrown in the damn towel!
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He should’ve but Apollo did tell Rocky not to throw in the towel no matter what. He was just respecting what his friend wanted.
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That’s a cool track. I like the bassline lead into the crisp guitars. The verse tension is great to feel in the narration. The fade out chorus seemed so fitting too as if fading out of conscious, possibly. Thanks for sharing, Scott. We all need to pick ourselves up sometimes and it came at a good time for me.
I tried to write down the lyrics to add to their void at Metal Archives. If you get a chance, Scott, let me know of errors.
Throwing In the Towel, Fist (UK), 1981
Big night, big comeback
Name call, crowds roaring
Memories flood back
Ten years go fast
Old man, fit wasteland
Hear the young boys
Buzz a tagline
Quick glance, eyes staring
and youth just gunning
(chorus)
I feel like throwing in the towel
I feel like throwing in the towel
Duck, weave, jab, back up
Speed gun reflex missing
Flow stings head seams
Got to clear my mind
Pace in sidestep
Left hook, right crosses
Punch, block chin open
And caught flat footed
(chorus)
I feel like throwing in the towel
I feel like throwing in the towel
Well I never wanted to return
But the kept asking me
When are we gonna see?
(guitar solo)
3 stars, mouth gaping
Roar on, legs shaking
Get up, crowd screaming
White eyes, blood streaming
5 count, deep breathing
Legs got my brain spinnin’
8 count, I’m moving
Not sure who I’m fooling
(chorus)
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Glad it hit the spot for you. I’ve never been able to find the lyrics for this tracks anywhere. I even contacted the band but they didn’t reply. I think there’s a couple of bits there that I’d change but I’ll have another listen through and get back to you.
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(shops for Lead Weight)
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You should. Worth it for this and Satan’s Empire doing ‘Soldiers Of War’.
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Just looked now, talk about a no frills release!
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